"What is it?" Deirdre was extremely puzzled. Emily sounded so arrogant that Deirdre could not help feeling uneasy.Emily approached her step by step. "Brendan doesn't love you anymore."When you were fighting for your life in the operation theater yesterday, I was with Brendan. He told me in person that he cares about me now, and I'm the woman that he wants to marry."Deirdre's head was humming. She came to respond to the situation soon enough and said in a mocking tone, "Emily, you must know your limits even if you're just daydreaming. Everyone knows that Brendan's hatred toward you has already reached its max point. He would have dismembered you if I had not stopped him from cutting you up with great effort."I may be lying on the sick bed now, but it doesn't mean that my head is not working anymore. Do you think I'll fall for you blowing your own trumpet?"Emily expressed her embarrassment and anger.She felt especially embarrassed by Deirdre's contempt. However, she soon
"I was a little worried after I heard from you yesterday that Ms. McKinnon was in the operating room, so I came here to see her. She suddenly said that she was not feeling well, so I went to help her out of concern. But… she pushed me hard..."Emily parted her hair with her hands. Her forehead was swollen and bleeding, and it looked frightening. When she touched it, Emily gasped in pain, and tears fell down from her eyes.Seeing her pitiful appearance, Brendan felt panicked and heartbroken. Just like that, his dislike for Deirdre deepened."Deirdre, I don't care what your reasons are, but it's wrong to hurt others!" he stated condescendingly, his tone completely indifferent. "I won't warn you about this again. Apologize!"Deirdre tried hard to see Brendan's face clearly. She never anticipated that, out of the two of them, Brendan would choose to trust Emily over her.She choked up, saying, "What if I don't apologize?"Brendan's eyes turned cold. "If you don't apologize, I'll take
Brendan frowned slightly. His eyes had a complicated look as he pushed her away calmly. "Don't be afraid. She's just trying to trick us."In the end, he didn't force Deirdre to apologize. Instead, he turned around and left. Seeing this, Emily was frustrated as she felt that Deirdre was only one step away from breaking down.But if she went hard on her, Brendan would become suspicious of her instead. After all, Ryker's hypnotism could not make Brendan completely lose his mind.After Emily went out, she saw that Brendan was in the corridor not far away. As soon as she stepped forward, she heard Brendan ask in a displeased tone, "You said in front of Deirdre that I like you and want to marry you?""I..." Emily had already found an excuse. "I just want Ms. McKinnon to give up as soon as possible. She has been provocative toward me since I went to the ward, saying that you will not part with her and the child in her womb and that even if she killed Madame Brighthall, you would just thro
Brendan's eyes betrayed his inner turmoil as emotions filled his typically serene, black gaze."But I still can't be too invested in you now. I want to deal with Deirdre's matter first, then I'll think about it," he said.Emily nodded hurriedly—she had been working so hard for this day!"Of course, Mr. Brighthall... No, Bren. I will wait for you until you agree to be with me and marry me."When Emily addressed him as 'Bren', Brendan suddenly had mixed feelings. He vaguely remembered that there was a person who once called him Bren.What did he feel at that time? He was even more excited and elated—the kind of happiness that radiated from his head to the tips of his toes. But it had been so long that he had forgotten who that person was. But it wouldn't have been Deirdre.Brendan pushed Emily away. "In that case, just give me some time. It's getting late. I'll take you back."Then, the two left the corridor. Deirdre saw through the crack of the door that the two blurred embracing
The caregiver immediately took the small tub and started washing. Meanwhile, Deirdre sat on the bed and fell in deep thought for a while.On the first day, she did not act rashly. After chatting with the caregiver and becoming familiar with her, Deirdre said, "Mrs. Wanner, if you are free today, can you take me out for a walk? I've been resting alone in the ward, and my body feels stiff. I want to exercise.""Go out for a walk? Okay." Mrs. Wanner stopped what she was doing and reached out to help Deirdre up.Deirdre could still clearly see the vague outline of everything, and while wandering around after going out, she familiarized herself with the route of the hospital. She figured out the locations of the safe passage and the elevator and where she should go if she wanted to avoid the surveillance camera.After the walk was over, she lay back on the bed again, trying to calm herself down. She didn't pay attention to what Mrs. Wanner said next to her. After a while, she heard Mrs.
"You are indeed this kind of woman. What can I say?" Brendan followed his will and said, "Deirdre, I've seen your cruelty before, and besides, even if you didn't kill my mother yourself, do you dare to deny that you have no part in it at all?"Deirdre couldn't stop her body from becoming stiff. Brendan's words touched her sore spot. She never denied her responsibility for this, but Brendan's words made her out to be a vicious woman. In Brendan's mind, even if she was not a murderer, she would become a murderer.Immediately, she was at a loss for words. Brendan refused to believe her anymore, so it was pointless for her to argue any longer."In that case, I have nothing to say. You go to your Emily. I can't take care of you," she said.Brendan squinted when he saw Deirdre's upset look. "Are you jealous?"Deirdre bit her lower lip fiercely. While Brendan had mixed feelings, he felt annoyed at the same time. She loved him, but she still killed Madame Brighthall.He said sarcasticall
Brendan's face turned darker. "If I'm not a man, then what am I doing now?"Deirdre lost control of her emotions. "You're a monster! Don't you hate me? Don't you like Emily? If she knew that you reacted to me like this, she would be pissed off. Are you such an unfaithful man!?""Shut up!" Brendan's eyes turned cold, and he pursed his lips to warn her, "If you dare to mention this to Ms. Collins, I will definitely not let you off the hook!"Deirdre was heartbroken, and she said with tears, "It's useless for you to persuade me. You should control yourself. After all, no one can control you except yourself in this matter. It's due to your male instinct."Seeing Deirdre's tears, Brendan became unexpectedly irritable. He let go of her and got up. He had slightly sobered up and regretted coming. Even if he came over, he would just feel upset.But he was drunk and didn't need to go back, so he just slept on another bed. Despite his initial belief that sleep would elude him, the familiar
"He confiscated my ID, and he refused to let me go. I only escaped from under his nose because I was sick and hospitalized. I want to go home first."The driver beckoned, "Hurry up and get in the car. Do you have any money? I'll take you to a hotel. You can't travel through the regular route as you don't have your ID. I have a car for you, a black one. I don't know if you mind.""I don't mind, as long as I can go. I have money too." She was fully prepared to leave, so how could she not take any money? She had coaxed some money from Jet. Even though Jet was domineering and seemed difficult to deal with, he never refused her request. When she found a chance, she would ask Sam to return it to him.The driver took her to a hotel to check in and saved Deirdre's number. The hotel did not require ID to check in, so it was just a shabby hotel. A couple was living next door, and she could hear their passionate activities the moment she lay down.Deirdre spread her coat on the bed, lay down,
"Where is she?"Brendan stared at him, utterly surprised. Sean's voice trembled a bit, but his eyes held a clear and hopeful gaze.Brendan finally calmed down and looked behind him. "There, that's your mother."This was the first time Sean had spoken. Deirdre felt her mind buzzing. When she snapped back to reality, she extended her hand. "Sean, come here."Sean's eyes held gentle amazement. He was intelligent—perhaps he had sensed it on the way there. Thus, his feelings were a blend of happiness and satisfaction.He felt joy that Deirdre was going to be his mother.Being a kid, he took a few steps but couldn't stop his tears, holding onto Deirdre firmly.Deirdre suppressed her own urge to cry and crouched down, wiping away his tears. "Do you... hate mom for not being there and not recognizing you?"Sean shook his head frantically. "As long as you're here… That's enough…"Deirdre hugged him tightly, and Brendan approached, wrapping them both in his embrace.When they brought S
"I was too young back then, still sulking with my father," Brendan replied after recalling his childhood.Arthur chuckled. "Kids will be kids, after all. Besides, your father was an excellent businessman, and you've followed in his footsteps. I've heard about your impressive success with the business in Neve. You're truly talented. With the Parkers under your control, I can finally relax." Brendan thought it was just praise from an elder. He was about to give a humble response when he got surprised by the rest of the statement. This made him freeze in place."The Parkers?" Deirdre was equally surprised."What's wrong?" Arthur beamed. "Don't you both already have children? Although you've divorced, your relationship is still strong. Don't tell me there's no thought of remarriage?""Remarriage? It's not the right time yet." Deirdre blushed from the teasing."It'll come eventually. If that's the case, then you are both part of the Parkers now. You're my only daughter, and he's my s
Beneath the envelope lay the evidence. Deirdre stared at it for a long time, with Brendan by her side, offering silent support.The next day, they boarded a plane back to Southedge. Within three days, news of the top political figure's downfall due to corruption spread like wildfire throughout Southedge, even captivating the interest of other cities.Upon learning the full story in his study, Arthur's aging face was stained with tears of regret. "If only I had known sooner... I wouldn't have let your mother leave like that."Deirdre lowered her gaze and handed the letter to Arthur. "My mother explains in the letter that her departure was a voluntary sacrifice to protect everyone. She never blamed you."Arthur gazed at the letter, struggling to find the right words.Deirdre left silently, shutting the door.-Ryker was also brought to the police station. Under Sterling's methods, he confessed to the murders. Emily faced the same outcome.All of them waited for their trials.-
The distance from Southedge to Village Alnwick was immense, yet Brendan displayed unwavering resolve."Then let's depart today," he said.As Deirdre bid farewell to Arthur, an unexpected glimmer of sadness flickered in his eyes. "Visiting your mother's grave, huh? Okay, go ahead. Take care of yourself, don't overexert.""Yes," Deirdre replied. Faced with Arthur's hesitant gaze, she felt compelled to add, "Dad, I'll be back."Arthur met Deirdre's gaze, hope rekindling in his eyes.Deirdre softly sighed. "You're my father, my family. Of course, I'll return." "Really? You mean it?" Arthur's excitement made his hands tremble slightly. He held onto Deirdre as if wanting to convey something, but all that emerged was a murmur, "Then please return early... Come back as soon as you can...""Sure. I have a friend coming over later today. Take care of him. Oh, and my boyfriend is here, too. Don't worry about the specifics. I'll explain everything upon my return."As she stepped out, Bren
"Brendan Brighthall?" Ryker wiped away his own nosebleed. "How did you manage to come from Neve? Didn't I ask Emily to keep an eye on you? That useless fool who can't even accomplish simple tasks.""Choosing to control minds with drugs all along, you should have anticipated this outcome." Brendan acted roughly. As he got up, he took the key from Ryker and placed Ryker on a chair.Deirdre clenched Brendan's sleeve tightly. Sensing her tension, Brendan embraced her to calm her down."It's okay. I'm sorry for coming back so late, making you go through this.""It's not your fault. Your timely arrival saved me from further trouble. It's my own foolishness... I let him find something to use against me," Deirdre said, shaking her head weakly.Brendan frowned, cupping Deirdre's face. "He wasn't someone easily deceived, to begin with. You've done well. I'm the one who brought you into this danger, which is unforgivable."Brendan's dark eyes were filled with intense emotions. He had arrive
Deirdre hugged Ryker, resting her head on his chest as he patted her back. "By the way, you're not curious about where I went after I left early this morning?"Deirdre realized the hidden meaning behind Ryker's words, retreated from Ryker's embrace little by little, and looked at him.Ryker's eyes, as enigmatic as ever, held a clarity that seemed to pierce through everything. "I went to the hospital."He didn't wait for Deirdre to respond. "Because I was curious why I was so sleepy last night for no reason. Any ordinary person might chalk it up to exhaustion. But I know my body too well. You drugged me."Deirdre felt a sudden chill running down her spine.Ryker took a step forward casually, but his eyes were full of killing intent. "I underestimated you, Deirdre. Your acting skills are far more impressive than I imagined. You nearly had me fooled. You deserve an Oscar. What a pity that you're now in my hands."Deirdre retreated abruptly, but she found a cold wall barring her esca
Deirdre was momentarily stunned as she watched Arthur search around the study. Eventually, he uncovered a rusty key from a drawer.Arthur raised the key. "Is this what your mother desired?"Deirdre's mind raced, thoughts swirling. "Is this from my mother?"A hint of disappointment shadowed Arthur's eyes as he nodded. "This is the only thing she left me before she departed. She didn't explain why. She just made me promise to keep this key and never search for her."Although I agreed, the thought of it weighed heavily on me. So, I hid the key in a corner of the drawer instead of treating it like any other possession. In hindsight, I shouldn't have made that promise. I shouldn't have let her go alone."Deirdre's voice wavered, confusion evident. But as realization dawned, her heart raced. "Can you give me the key?"Arthur earnestly nodded, his expression solemn. "This belongs to your mother. I'm willing to give it to you whenever you're ready. To be honest, I'm relieved to pass it o
The butler nodded and guided Deirdre to the study's door. Gathering her emotions, she pushed it open.Arthur's attention was on some documents, but the door's creak made him look up. He met Deirdre's gaze, causing a subtle flicker of surprise and uncertainty in his eyes."Deirdre..." He set aside the file. "Did you just wake up? Hungry? I'll have the kitchen prepare something."Deirdre shook her head, closing the door gently."Not hungry. I came to talk.""Everything okay?" Concern colored Arthur's expression. Though he seemed worried she might leave, he tried to hide it. "Go ahead. I'm with you."Deirdre found his reaction slightly amusing. "I'm not leaving."A spark returned to Arthur's eyes. "Then what's up?"As Deirdre grew more serious, she said, "I came to Southedge not just for a visit. I want to know if my mother left something with you before she passed. Something significant.""Left something?" Arthur was puzzled. "She left several things. Which one do you mean?"De
Brendan's eyes held a hint of pity as he spoke hesitantly. "Your mother took that item away."He gently touched Deirdre's face. "That man kidnapped your mother years ago. I don't know what happened during that time. Maybe he hurt your mother and wanted to keep her forcibly. Eventually, your mother found a chance to escape back to your father with the man's item."She left suddenly while pregnant with you, not out of hatred for your father, but to protect you. Now, that person is unsure if your mother or Arthur has the item. Thus, he aimed to kidnap both you and your father, taking his time to retrieve them."Deirdre's mind was overwhelmed, flooded with information that threatened to drown her. This unexpected revelation left her in disbelief.'My mother left my father because of me? And the mastermind behind Ryker is responsible for my mother's kidnapping?'"So that item holds significant importance for this person, enough to bring him down, right?" Deirdre forced herself to calm